MAJURO, Dec 25, 2008 (AFP) - A state of emergency was declared in the Marshall Islands late Christmas Eve as widespread flooding displaced hundreds of islanders, damaged dozens of homes and threatened public health.

Government officials said Wednesday the flooding showed how vulnerable the western Pacific atoll nation is to very small changes in weather conditions.

The islands have been pounded three times in the past two weeks by powerful waves caused by storm surges that coincided with high tides, swamping the main urban centres of Majuro and Ebeye that are less than a metre …

Highlights

- 17 families left homeless in Kiribati and an undisclosed number of people displaced

- Early reports from FSM suggest some outer islands may have suffered from inundation

- International assistance has not been requested by any country

Situation overview

Around Tuesday 9 December, two regions of abnormally high sea levels, one over the Solomon Sea South of the New Britain Coast in PNG, and one over Guam waters north of the equator, appear to have been forced together by two tropical depressions.

Source - PNG National Weather Service Press Release, Tuesday 9 …

PREFACE

With increasing global temperatures, rising sea levels and more frequent and intense extreme weather events, Pacific islands countries, especially those in warmer latitudes, are the most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. Their populations are expected to be among the first that will need to adapt to climate change or even abandon their traditional homeland and relocate.

Summary